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Product Reviews

$8 NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover Is an Orange that Sings the Blues

December 8th, 2010 by Karen 25 Comments

nyx eye and lip makeup remover review closeup

Um, why do I feel like rubbing orange slices all over myself? Oh, yeah — I remember. NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover ($8), one of the best smelling makeup removers I’ve EVER sniffed.

Fo’ reals! This dual-phase liquid (an oil and water emulsion; it turns a pale blue when shaken) smells fresh and sweet like a yummy (blue?) orange, and it digests le war paint almost as well as the much more expensive Lancome Bi-Facil, also a dual-phase formula.

They say the nose knows. Well, mine stopped paying attention as soon as it caught a whiff of this fragrant potion of orange and papaya extracts. As a matter of fact, I like the smell so much that I’m willing to overlook its few shortcomings, one of which has to do with mascara. It’s not that good at removing it as Bi-Facil (or any number of other eye makeup removers), but nothing’s perfect, right? Except perhaps the way NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover smells, LOL! 🙂

RANDOM SIDE NOTE: Wouldn’t it be freaky if our eyes could process scent?

Even though Bi-Facil whisks away mascara and waterproof products better than NYX’s remover, the later still manages to spirit away most of the non-waterproof lip and eye makeup I’ve thrown its way, doing so without irritating my sensitive eyes or clouding up my vision (I’m talking to YOU, Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover!).

nyx eye and lip makeup remover review

nyx eye and lip makeup remover review back of bottle

nyx eye and lip makeup remover review ingredients
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There are 25 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Skin Care Keywords: nyx

Was JK Jemma Kidd Eyeing MAC When They Created the Catwalk I-Kit?

December 8th, 2010 by Karen 20 Comments

jk jemma kidd catwalk i-kit review swatches photos open 1

Like the Dom Pérignon of drugstore makeup palettes, the $26 JK Jemma Kidd Catwalk I-Kit will set your holiday budget back, but you may not mind if you’re a lover of sheer shadows and/or the classic neutral colors across the way at MAC.

The kit comes with a single creamy eye primer, a pair of dual-tipped mini-brushes and eight shadows (two of them, the highlight shadows, share a single large pan), quite a few of which look like sheerer versions of staple MAC neutrals to me.

At least they picked great products to use for inspiration, right? 🙂

Shimmery taupe Editor reminds me of MAC Satin Taupe, shimmery golden beige Vintage of MAC All That Glitters and matte brown Vanity Fair reminds me of MAC Cork.

jk jemma kidd catwalk i-kit review swatches photos
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There are 20 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: jemma kidd

Like Love, Pink 4 Friday Lipstick by MAC and Nicki Minaj Is Fleeting

December 7th, 2010 by Karen 74 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog reviews Pink 4 Friday Lipstick by MAC and Nicki Minaj
Wearing Pink 4 Friday Lipstick by MAC and Nicki Minaj all by its lonesome (left); with MAC Lip Liner in Spice and MAC Clear Lipglass (right)

I’m sure she’s out there somewhere — the girl who can pull off cool and creamy MAC Pink 4 Friday Lipstick ($14.50) all by itself. And wherever you are, you gorgeous princess (or prince) of great makeup fortune, I salute you (and pump my fist in the air, Jersey Shore style)!

mac pink 4 friday nicki minaj

The extremely limited-edition color, just 4 days (!) in this world, is a collaboration between MAC and hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj (to coincide with the release of her new album, Pink Friday).

MAC loves to fire up their fetishists (like me) with hard-to-snare products. I can’t help it, and I think there’s an element of human nature behind the phenomenon, but knowing that the color won’t be available for very long does make me want it even more.

There’s only one way to pick up Pink 4 Friday, and that’s online, and only on exactly two more dates — Friday, December 10 and Friday, December 17 — beginning at midnight Eastern Time on each of the dates and lasting 24 hours. Sadly, the first two Fridays already came and went (November 26 and December 3). 🙁

I gotta be honest — I loves me some Nicki Minaj (got Pink Friday on repeat right now), but this creamy, pale pastel pink’s not a cinch to wear.
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There are 74 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: MAC Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To, Product Reviews Keywords: mac

Should You Diva Into the New Christina Aguilera Eau de Parfums?

December 7th, 2010 by Karen 11 Comments

On the way home from da club last Saturday night, my friend turned to me in the car and said, “I have to tell you something, but you have to promise not to judge.”

Um, that’s usually what people say right before they admit to breaking and entering, or lewd and lascivious conduct, so I steeled myself before replying. “I’ll try to keep an open mind.”

“I watched Burlesque last night…” She let it hang out there for an uncomfortably long moment before adding, “and it was really good!”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” she explained, “well, that little man next to the review in the [San Francisco] Chronicle movie section was clapping out of his seat.”

(I knew the guy she was talking about.)

“So I figured I’d give it a chance.”

It sounded reasonable, but I’d seen the trailer a few times. “Seriously?”

“Yes!” she charged, “and no judgment, remember?! It wasn’t as bad as everyone’s been making it out to be.”

Hmm… This morning, inspired by my buddy’s willingness to give Xtina the benefit of the doubt, I tried to keep an open mind when I tried the diva’s two new fragrances, Christina Aguilera Eau de Parfum and Christina Aguilera By Night Eau de Parfum ($39 each), even though I wasn’t crazy about her last scent, Inspire.

Even before the first sniff, they were getting mad points for the lovely lace pattern on the bottles.
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There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fragrance, Product Reviews

In the Mood For Nude? The New Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils Just Matte Satisfy You

December 6th, 2010 by Karen 43 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog wearing the new Urban Decay 247 Glide-On Lip Pencil in midnight cowboy
Wearing Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Midnight Cowboy

So who’s ready to go nude with me? Wait — button up those skinny jeans, ya perverts (although I applaud you for your willingness to let it all hang out!); I’m talking about the two newest additions to the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil line ($18 each).

Waterproof, with a matte finish and a creamy texture that’s smoother than my favorite werewolf’s chest, rosy nude Illegal and plummy nude Midnight Cowboy live up to the long-lasting standard set by UD’s pencil liners, staying put for about six to eight hours on my lips.

This morning I slipped into Illegal, and two big @ss bottles of water, a chai tea latte and a bowl of pumpkin soup later it still looked (almost) as good as new.

Urban Decay 247 Glide-On Lip Pencil review swatches photos illegal midnight cowboy

Urban Decay 247 Glide-On Lip Pencil review swatches photos illegal midnight cowboy closeup
Illegal (left) and Midnight Cowboy (right)
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There are 43 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: urban

All That Glitters Is Greed: Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion

December 6th, 2010 by Karen 59 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog reviews urban decay greed eyeshadow primer potion 2
Wearing Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Blending powder, cream and pencil eyeshadows on top of the new Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18) might not be as effortless as it is to blend shadows on top of NARS Pro Prime, arguably one of the best eye primers on the market, but there are times (like these) when beauty trumps ease of use. The newest shade in Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion Line and the most glittery one yet, its striking shimmery gold intensifies eye looks with a long-lasting, water-resistant formula that helps it make up for sub-par blending.

My non-scientific tests involved a swipe on the back of my hand (it lasted through four vigorous washings and only came off with an oil-based makeup remover) and a late night out with the girls (dinner, drinks and then four solid hours of dancing). Greed withstood everything with nary a crease and no fading at all.

urban decay spring 2011
Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Potion Primer on far left
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There are 59 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: urban decay

The Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil Blending Brush Likes to Push Eyeshadows Around

December 4th, 2010 by Karen 14 Comments

urban decay 24 7 blending brush review brush head closeup

If your eye looks pack more colors than a double rainbow, take a gander at the new Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil Blending Brush ($16). Designed for use with the new spring Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeshadow Pencils, its synthetic fiber brush head is certainly better for blending than for application (it’s a little stiff and tends to push products around), but I think it’s still worth having in your makeup kit, particularly if you prefer a sharp or sudden transition between your eye colors as opposed to a subtle gradient.

urban decay 24 7 blending brush review in hand

urban decay 24 7 blending brush review


Here’s a quick look at it blending on my hand…

PRICE: $16
AVAILABILITY: Coming soon to Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s and urbandecay.com.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup Tips/How To, Product Reviews Keywords: urban decay

Urban Decay Spring 2011: I Tip My Hat to the New 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils

December 3rd, 2010 by Karen 44 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog reviews urban decay 24 7 glide on shadow pencils 1
Wearing Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils in Sin, Lit and Morphine

The new Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils ($20) are the jam, but if you’re gonna do any blending you’ve gotta work hella fast.

“Run, Forest, run!”

urban decay 247 glide on shadow pencils small
Clockwise from lower left: Barracuda, Rehab, Delinquent, Wasteland, Clash, Clinic, Mercury, Midnight Cowboy, Lit, Sin, Narc and Morphine

New for spring 2011, these 12 creamy shadows in a stick are spin-offs of Urban Decay’s famed 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. They’re just as smudge- and crease-proof as the originals with the same smoooove texture.
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There are 44 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: urban decay

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